How old should my puppy be to begin training? Since obedience training is essential to good behavioral health, training should begin as early as possible. We believe that 10 weeks is a good starting point for most puppies. Owners are usually pleasantly surprised at how easily and quickly their puppies learn.

Should my children be involved in the training? Yes, depending on their age and the length of their attention span. We think it's important to include children in the training sessions. Generally children aged 9 and above have the necessary attention span to be involved. However, you know your own child best, and if you feel they're ready, willing and able, then they should be included.

What type of training methods do you use? Our gentle training methods are based on operant conditioning using positive reinforcement and reward based training. Food treats and praise are generally used for beginning motivation, with treats being phased out as quickly as possible. There are never any harsh physical corrections.

How long are your sessions? Obedience training sessions usually range from 1 to 1.5 hours. Behavior consultations are generally from 1.5 to 2 hours.

Can my dog learn obedience training in only 3 lessons? Yes. Sometimes the title of “dog trainer” can be a misnomer. Most obedience trainers are actually “people trainers”. Our training is designed to teach you how to train your own dog and to coach you through the essentials like body posture, timing and voice control. Since you will be doing the actual training, and because training requires repetition, your level of success ultimately depends on you and your dog's activity together. Our 3 lesson course has an excellent success rate and we are happy to provide references from both clients and veterinarians.

Can my dog live with you for a while so you can train him and then give him back to me fully trained? No. Though having your dog trained away can be effective (and expensive!), we believe that obedience training your own dog will strengthen your benevolent leadership skills, solve many behavioral problems and allow you to develop a strong and lasting bond with your best friend.

Where are you located? We are in Cortlandt Manor, Westchester County, New York. Obedience training, behavior counseling and dog sitting are performed in your home when it is most convenient for you. Boarding is done in our home.

Can you train my children? No, we only work on dogs; you're on your own with the children. However, feel free to apply whatever you learn from dog training to your children at no extra charge.